International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva addresses the opening ceremony of the IMF Shanghai Center in east China's Shanghai, Dec. 8, 2025. (IMF/Handout via Xinhua)

SHANGHAI, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Monday officially launched the operations of its regional center in Shanghai, headed by Johannes Wiegand, an IMF economist, as the director.

As one of the regional centers set up by the IMF worldwide, the IMF Shanghai Center is expected to enhance the IMF's engagement with the Asia-Pacific region, according to a statement from the IMF.

The center will serve as a hub to promote research and knowledge sharing that can inform policies in areas of relevance for emerging market and middle-income countries, said the statement.

It also aims to deepen dialogue and outreach with member countries, regional institutions, and other stakeholders in the region, according to the statement.

"The opening of this center comes at a moment of global economic transformation -- a time of uncertainty and risk but also excitement and opportunity. We see fundamental transformations in geopolitics, technology, demographics, and climate -- these are the challenges to which we must all rise as we craft a better future," said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, at the center's launching ceremony.

"I have the highest hopes for this center -- as a place to help us better understand the economic issues and, ultimately, provide the best possible analysis and advice to our members, in emerging Asia and beyond," she added.

The commencement of operations of the IMF Shanghai Center fully reflects the firm stance of China and the IMF in advocating win-win cooperation, said Pan Gongsheng, governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), at the launching ceremony.

He emphasized that this holds great importance for deepening collaboration between the IMF and China, enhancing macroeconomic policy exchanges and coordination among Asia-Pacific countries, and safeguarding global and regional financial stability while improving global financial governance.

The PBOC will continue to work with the Shanghai municipal government and the IMF to fully support the construction and development of the IMF Shanghai Center, Pan added. ■